A week after the Aintree Grand National, we have the Ayr Scottish Grand National taking place, live on ITV and going off at 3:35pm.
Our three tipsters here at Freebets, Alan Kelly, Charlie McCann and Ed Quigley have taken a look at the race, and all three have a different selection for us.
It looks to be wide open, they’ve all gone for an each way play, and you can see what each of them fancies below!
Alan Kelly - Mr Vango (Each Way)
I’m happy to oppose the Willie Mullins contenders for this 4m stamina test. But for the prospect of a British trainer’s championship, the Closutton handler’s six runners suggest strength in numbers rather than a degree of confidence in an effort to follow up last week’s famous victory at Aintree.
Mr Vango will be having just his fourth run over fences but looked a talented staying chaser in the making when winning an extended 3m 6f handicap at Exeter by 60 lengths before contesting the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
While no match for the classy Corbetts Cross, Mr Vango was still in with a chance of finishing second when making a mistake at the final fence.
Jockey Ben Jones has had five winners from his last 20 rides and could well land the biggest success of his career so far on a horse who looks well treated on a mark of 135.
Charlie McCann - Whacker Clan (Each Way)
Willie Mullins saddles six in the Scottish National in his quest for a first British Trainers’ title. Paul Townend rides Spanish Harlem, but he is unproven at the distance and readily overlooked.
Having been with Git Maker for the Kim Muir last month, I also backed him earlier in the week when it became apparent that there would be at least some give in the ground. The form of his second to Inothewayurthinkin at Cheltenham was given a huge boost when the winner dotted up in the Aintree Grade 1 3m Novice Chase, and the selection can race from the same mark.
He won on good to soft ground at Lingfield earlier in the season but is at his most effective when there is plenty of cut. The drying ground is a concern, and he is reluctantly overlooked.
WHACKER CLAN, meanwhile, finished one place, but another eighteen lengths, behind Git Maker at Cheltenham. However, the ground had gone against him, and I believe he could be a different proposition on this better ground.
I remember Henry De Bromhead’s gelding winning at Cheltenham on good to soft earlier in the season and thinking there could be a big race in him later in the season.
Inis Oirr needs to go right-handed, but Anglers Crag is a must for any shortlist, although he won the Eider Chase at Newcastle despite his jumping. An 8lbs rise is fair for that big race success and he has been a revelation since joining Brian Ellison in November.
My Silver Lining has had a hard season, but she has been a credit to Emma Lavelle and did us a big favour when landing the Classic Chase at Warwick in January. She remains open to further improvement and carries just 10st 3lbs. I will kick myself if she lands a Scottish National, but I wonder if a hard season will catch up with her.
Ed Quigley - Gold Cup Bailly (Each Way)
The Scottish Grand National looks like a bit of a puzzle, but I will roll the dice with an individual who brings some excellent course form to the table.
GOLD CUP BAILLY has been off the track for a year but has two wins from four visits to the Scottish venue and has a good record fresh. It is hard to imagine that connections will have him undercooked for this encounter, and eased to a mark of 140, he looks a massive price in a wide-open race.
J J Slevin takes the ride on this unexposed eight-year-old, and I think the combination could easily get in the mix from an each-way perspective.
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